Thill-coupling.



W/ TNE SSE S IV V E N 70/? @605 ASASZaQmak-er ATTORNEYS:

run Nomus rzrrns 00., WASHINGTON, ac.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. J. S. SHOEMAKER.

THILL COUPLING. Arr-momma mun mus. 1am.

.IACdB S. SHOEMAKER, OF NEW LOTHROP, MICHIGAN.

THILL-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 1907.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 382,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAooB S. SHOEMAKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Lothrop, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a thill coupling of very simple construction, and'one wherein a wrench or other tool is not needed in effecting the coupling or uncoupling With and from the shaft irons.

Another purpose of the invention is to so construct the coupling that it will be antirattling, and so that a connection between it and the shafts can be quickly and conveniently made, and a separation as readily and conveniently effected.

It is also a purpose of the invention to provide a retaining device for the coupling that will not work loose under any condition of service.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the fig ures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the coupling and the shaft iron connected therewith; Fig. 2 is an end view of the coupling and a section through the axle to which it is attached; and Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of the coupling, the section being taken practically on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

A represents the forward axle of the vehicle and B a clip therefor, which clip differs from the ordinary clip in several particulars, namely, its locking plate 10 that engages with the under face of the axle A is made to extend forwardly beyond the axle and is given a slight downward inclination at 11 and at its forward end is provided with an arm 12 that is at right angles to the extended portion 11 of the said locking plate, being parallel with the aforesaid axle A. A space in tervenes the said arm and the axle, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The clip is provided, as is shown, with opposing eyes 13 and 14, and the bore 15 of the eye 14 is larger than the bore 16 of the eye 13, and the latter bore is provided with a thread. A draft bolt C is passed through the two said eyes 13 and 14, and this draft bolt is in two diameters, the reduced portion thereof being exteriorly threaded, as is shown at 17 in Fig. 3, to enter the threaded eye 13. The reduced portion of the bolt C extends to a point that is about centrally between the eyes 13 and 14: when the bolt is in position therein, but the larger end of the bolt extends a distance beyond the larger eye 14, as is also shown best in Fig. 3. By this reduction in the diameter of the bolt C, a shoulder 18 is formed. 2

In the further construction of the bolt C, opposing pins'or projections 19 are located at the peripheral portion of the larger end portion of the bolt, adapted to receive a key D, to be hereinafter described. An eye 20 of the shaft irons E is reduced in diameter proportionately to the reduction of the bolt 0, whereby a shoulder 21 is formed in the said eye 20, as is illustrated in Fig. 3, so that the eye 20 of the shaft iron E accommodates itself to the bolt C, turning loosely thereon between the eyes 13 and 14 of the clip. A spring '22 is coiled around the reduced portion of the draft bolt C, and the said spring 22 is made to lie close to the shoulder 18 of said draft bolt, and when the draft bolt has been passed through the eye 20 of the shaft iron E, the spring lies between the shoulder 18 of the draft bolt and the shoulder 21 in the said eye. This spring serves to prevent the rattling noise as the vehicle is being drawn, and also takes up any lost motion that may occur.

With reference to the key D, it is preferably made of spring material and is bifurcated at one of its ends, and the members of the key at its bifurcated end are provided with openings or apertures 23 adapted to receive the pins or projections 19 of the bolt C when the bifurcated section of the key is sprung over the said bolt. Thus the key D is pivotally and removably connected with the bolt. In placing the key in position on the bolt it is usually held in alinement with the bolt, as is shown in'Fig. 3, but after the key has been placed in position it is turned rearward and carried into the space between the forward arm 12 of the clip and the axle, thus holding the key in proper position to lock the ,bolt in its position.

It is evident that when a fastening or retaining device of the character described is employed, it is practically impossible for it to be shaken off under any condition of usage, at the same time it can be quickly and conveniently applied or removed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a thill coupling, a clip, a draft bolt loosely passed through one eye of the clip, being threaded in the opposing eye, projections on the peripheral portion of the bolt adjacent its plain end, a bifurcated spring key having-its members apertured and adapted to be sprung into engagement with the said projections, and means for holding the key in a predetermined position.

2. In a thill coupling, a clip, the locking late whereof is provided with a forwardly ocated arm at an angle thereto, one eye of the clip being of greater diameter than the other, the smaller eye having a thread, a draft bolt in two diameters adapted to be received by the eyes of the clip, the reduced section of the said bolt being threaded and made to enter the smaller eye of the clip, a s ring coiled around the reduced portion of the bolt, and a s ring key removably and pivotally IIIOUHtGCI UPOH the larger end portion of the bolt outside of the eye through which said end is passed.

3. In a thill coupling, the combination with a clip having spaced eyes one eye larger than the other, and the smaller eye threaded, a bolt in two diameters passed through said eyes, the reduced portion of the bolt being threaded and a spring coiled around the reduced section of the bolt, of a shaft iron having an eye adapted to receive the said bolt, the interior of which eye is proportionately reduced in diameter, anil a removable key at the plain end of the b0 t.

4. In a thill coupling, a clip, a bolt loosely passed through one eye of the clip and screwed into the opposite eye, the threaded end of the said bolt being of lesser diameter than its plain end, a spring coiled around the reduced portion of the bolt, opposing projections from the peripheral portion of the larger end of the bolt outside of the clip, and a bifurcated spring key, the members of its bifurcated end having apertures therein to receive the projections from the said bolt.

5. In a thill coupling, the combination with'a clip, the locking plate whereof is carried forwardly and downwardly and provided at its forward end with an arm at right angles thereto, one eye of the said clip being interiorly larger than the other and the bore of the smaller eye being threaded, of a draft bolt of greater length than the width of the eye portion of the clip, the said bolt being in two diameters and eXteriorly threaded at its reduced portion to enter the threaded eye of the cli a spring coiled around the reduced portion of the bolt between the eyes of the clip, a shaft iron the interior diameter of the eye of which corresponds to the exterior diameter of the said bolt, which is adapted to pass through said eye whereby the spring on the bolt is held between a shoulder on the latter and. a shoulder in the eye of the shaft iron, and a bifurcated spring key pivotally and removably mounted upon the larger end of the bolt outside of the said clip.

6. In a thill coupling, a clip having spaced eyes of different diameters, one of the eyes being interiorly threaded, a shaft iron having an eye in two diameters, a bolt in two diameters, one end of the bolt being threaded and screwing into threaded eye of the clip, and a spring surrounding the reduced portion of the bolt between the shoulders of the bolt and the eye of the thill iron.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JACOB S. SHOEMAKER.

Witnesses:

FRANK IVIULCAHY, BERNARD KILDEAQ 

